Harrison, William Henry.
Autograph Letter Signed. One page, Quarto, Cincinnati, 16 July, 1833. Written during a period in Harrison's life when he was devoting most of his energies to running his farm in North Bend, and attempting to repair his financial position, damaged by his assuming responsibility for the unpaid debts of his sons William and Symmes and of Cincinnati friends. Harrison had returned three years earlier from Bogata, Columbia, where he had served as Minister Plenipotentiary, an appointment he had sought largely for financial reasons. He was stopped-short, soon after arriving, when President Jackson, coming into office, had him recalled. This letter was written in the quiet turmoil before the Presidential storm that would catapult him into office three years later, during Harrison's brief return to private life, and is concerned with agricultural and financial matters. Addressed, "My dear sir," the letter reads, in part:
"I delayed sending my wool to you to forward to Phil[adelphia] in consequence of my meeting with Mr. Walker (of the house of Clifton & Walker) who told me that he was authorized to purchase the article for a friend & that he would pay the cash for it. I sent up the sample & it is only a few days ago that he informed me that his friend would take the two [ ? ] parcels only for himself but would send on the [?] he sold on my a/c in Philadelphia. This I of course declined. I missed sending it up in a keel boat last week & will certainly send it to you in all this week..."
Letter bears moderate age-toning throughout, with two tiny areas of paper loss at left edge and one at right center, and occasional stains on its margins. Boldly penned and signed.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.
